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Pilot Homicide-Suicide: A System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) of Germanwings GWI18G

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Book cover Advances in Human Aspects of Transportation (AHFE 2018)

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 786))

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Abstract

Pilot homicide-suicides occur very rarely in commercial aviation. Nonetheless, when a crash like Germanwings flight 4U9525 has occurred, the stakeholders take action to improve current standards to help prevent new cases. The EASA-led task-force has proposed several recommendations. The System Theoretic Accident Process Analysis (STPA) of the accident investigates how European countermeasures have been improved the system at different levels. The new minimum cockpit occupancy of two personnel was tied to a safety and risk assessment by the operator whereas the cockpit door design was not changed. On a higher level a psychological health assessment for initial medicals class 1 has been added. Pilot support programs, an improvement of aeromedical services and a random drugs/alcohol screening complement the actions is being undertaken. Conflicts with privacy laws and medical confidentiality could not be solved entirely and are still being debated.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Flight Guidance, German Aerospace Center, Lilienthalplatz 7, 38108, Brunswick, Germany

    Daniela Schmid

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  1. Daniela Schmid
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Correspondence to Daniela Schmid .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, Transportation Research Group, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

    Neville Stanton

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Schmid, D. (2019). Pilot Homicide-Suicide: A System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) of Germanwings GWI18G. In: Stanton, N. (eds) Advances in Human Aspects of Transportation. AHFE 2018. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 786. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93885-1_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93885-1_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-93884-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-93885-1

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